This week I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about butts. Cigarette butts, that is. To begin with, I have to clarify a couple of things: my personal experience with cigarettes is limited to one occasion and I am neither qualified not desirous of condemning anyone else for their habits.
I have to admit that over these past few weeks butts have inflamed my usually calm demeanour, though; I have been, in fact, furious upon finding dozens of them laying on or near tinder dry grass and other flammables. To make matters even worse, many I’ve found are scattered within mere feet of houses, including ours. With the fire season being what it is, I scratch my head in wonderment that anyone could be so flagrantly careless of the remains of their habit.
Now that I’ve had my rant, here’s my next question: “What do butts have to do with the book of Proverbs?” In my wildest imaginations I find it hard to believe that Solomon or his father, King David, struggled with finding a place to dispose of cigarette butts but both of them have a lot to say about wisdom. Wisdom, the soundness of a decision or action, is essential to a life that honors God and blesses others.
I’m the first to admit that this is an unusual topic for an article based on the Bible but when you think about it, wisdom goes far beyond personal habits, scholastic, economic, social or any other considerations one can think of. It’s a characteristic sorely needed in every decision.
“[Wisdom] is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.” Proverbs 3:14
PS: Here’s my formerly undisclosed story: wrapped some hay in toilet paper, lit it, followed by whoosh. I was cured for life. There, that secret is finally out in public. Phew!
